If you’ve been bitten by the enduro bug and now fancy trying something further afield then we reckon the French enduro series is definitely well worth a look. These guys pretty much invented the format and they’ve definitely got the terrain!

Anyway, here’s what went on at the third round of this year’s series…

For the 9th edition of the Enduro Series, the nice resort of the Maurienne valley at the bottom of the Galibier once again offered an eventful weekend for the 350 riders.

The race was fully booked out this weekend in Valloire and the program was pretty full too with 8 runs on 3 different stages. More than 2h13 of racing for the best riders, and a bit more, or sometimes a lot more, for all the brave finishers. Only in France and on the Enduro Series can you see that!

Surprise this year, the battle started with a 100% new stage, designed last month by the local bike patrol members and refined by Alex Balaud, no one landed their wheels on it before the race.
This stage is 100% enduro, like all the other stages by the way. Valloire is pure enduro for those who still didn’t know.
One rider was in the limelight for this 3rd round; Théo Gally, who decided to focus on the French Cup whilst all the big names are across the Atlantic for the EWS.

Théo proved his talent, his nerves and his value. He dominated the race on Saturday, especially the very long stage in the afternoon, which was spiced up by a sudden storm (the Roman Way will leave memories for some riders for a long time). The gap was made, with a 1’40 lead that he’ll perfectly manage the next day.

He was the favourite but he still had to make it happen as in front of him was the old guard like Flo Golay who won the Sunday race, or Yannick Pontal (unlucky with a mechanical problem on Sunday), the Italians Ducci and Gambirasio, Baptiste Gaillot in constant progression and the puncher Thomas Lapeyrie.

But he also needed to contain the new wave of new enduro racers, whether they come from XC or DH racing. These guys are Thomas and Clément Decugis, Vincent Colange, Esteban Deronzier, Benoit Clement, Amaury Magnin or Aurelien Demailly and they’ve decided to focus on enduro and they’ve scored good times before, and that’s all we wish for them, scoring podiums.

To score big, hard work is needed to become a real enduro rider. And it’s a genuine enduro rider who won here, after working his way up and getting a incredible win at one of his favourite spots in France.

Théo Gally also increases the gap at the general ranking of the French Cup, as do Isabeau Cordurier, Yannick Sénéchal and Aurelien Demailly who all seem to have their destiny in their hands for the end of the season.

All these talents will meet again at the end of August in Val d’Isère for a big one, as this round will combine both the French Cup and the EWS.

By the way, Valloire would definitely deserve to host the French round of the EWS in 2014.
Wait and see…

RESULTS

Saturday

Men
1 GALY Théo SCOTT 1h05:27.423
2 GAILLOT Baptiste Rocky Sports 1h07:12.693
3 PONTAL Yannick MONDRAKER 1h07:17.925

Women
1 COURDURIER Isabeau VCM 1h19:04.550
2 PAJOT Anaïs SCOTT 1h22:30.159
3 ISRAEL Hanna Xtrem 1h22:49.528

Junior
1 MAGNIN Amaury Top Cycle 1h09:02.456
2 DEMAILLY Aurélien ORBEA ENDURO CREW 1h09:19.198
3 DECUGIS Clement Massilia Bike System 1h10:39.972

Master
1 SENECHAL Yannick Massilia bike System 1h11:57.480
2 DOZE Gilles Oppidum bike racing 1h14:20.083
3 BOULIN François Cannondale 1h17:15.688

Sunday

Men
1 GOLAY Florian BMC 1h07:21.387
2 GALY Théo SCOTT 1h07:53.177 
3 COLANGE Vincent VC BESSE 1h08:06.462 

Women
1 COURDURIER Isabeau VCM 1h18:05.391
2 PUGIN Mélanie Team Morzine Avoriaz 1h21:01.744 
3 PAJOT Anaïs SCOTT 1h21:44.472

Junior
1 DECUGIS Clement Massilia bike System 1h11:01.999
2 DEMAILLY Aurélien ORBEA ENDURO CREW 1h11:36.192
3 MAGNIN Amaury Top Cycle 1h11:50.259

Master
1 DOZE Gilles Oppidum bike racing 1h15:34.544
2 SENECHAL Yannick Massilia bike System 1h16:09.215
3 BOULIN François Cannondale 1h18:17.721

Weekend

Men
1 GALY Théo SCOTT 2h13:20.600
2 GOLAY Florian BMC 2h14:53.923
3 GAILLOT Baptiste Rocky Sports 2h15:55.974

Women
1 COURDURIER Isabeau VCM 2h37:09.941
2 PAJOT Anaïs SCOTT 2h44:14.631
3 ISRAEL Hanna Xtrem 2h46:45.629

Junior
1 MAGNIN Amaury Top Cycle 2h20:52.715
2 DEMAILLY Aurélien ORBEA ENDURO CREW 2h20:55.390
3 DECUGIS Clement Massilia bike System 2h21:41.971

Master
1 SENECHAL Yannick Massilia bike System 2h28:06.695
2 DOZE Gilles Oppidum bike racing 2h29:54.627
3 BOULIN François Cannondale 2h35:33.409

Current Overall Ranking Enduro Series Championship

Men
1 GALY Théo SCOTT 1250
2 GAILLOT Baptiste Rocky Sports 1155
3 DEMAILLY Aurélien ORBEA ENDURO CREW 1040

Women
1 COURDURIER Isabeau Maxima Bike 595
2 PAJOT Anaïs SCOTT LA CLUSAZ 556
3 MOSELEY Tracy T-MO Racing / Trek 480

Junior
1 DEMAILLY Aurélien ORBEA ENDURO 680
2 DECUGIS Clement Massilia bike System 610
2 MAGNIN Amaury Top Cycle 563

Master
1 SENECHAL Yannick Massilia bike System 710
2 DOZE Gilles Oppidum bike racing 604
3 IMBS Raphael TANNENBIKE 489